Thursday, April 16, 2015

Book Review & Giveaway: Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle by J.A. Lang


It’s autumn in the Cotswolds, and Chef Maurice is facing a problem of mushrooming proportion.

Not only has his wild herb and mushroom supplier, Ollie Meadows, missed his weekly delivery—he’s missing vital signs too, when he turns up dead in the woods near Beakley village.

Soon, Chef Maurice is up to his nose in some seriously rotten business—complete with threatening notes, a pignapping, and an extremely well-catered stake-out.

Can he solve Ollie’s murder before his home-made investigation brings the killer out for second helpings?


This first book in the Chef Maurice Culinary mystery series is pure, escapist fun, and I loved every minute of it!

Set in the picturesque Cotswolds, Chef Maurice is lamenting the disappearance of his mushroom supplier, Ollie Meadows. He finally decides to take matters into his own hands and pay a visit to Ollie's house, where he plans to help himself to his share of the mushrooms (and pay Ollie when he finally turns up, of course.) What he finds is a ransacked house and a bag of valuable white truffles. (Not of the chocolate or feline variety.) He thinks the truffles were grown locally, so with the help of his food critic friend Arthur, and his newly-adopted truffle-sniffing pig Hamilton, they head into the woods to hunt for the elusive mushrooms. What they find is Ollie, dead. Much to the chagrin of the local constabulary, Maurice takes it upon himself to solve the murder, while at the same time taking every chance he gets to get his hands on the tasty truffle evidence.

This book reminds me of the hysterical, madcap adventures of Agatha Raisin, and ends with a reveal right out of an Agatha Christie novel. Just add it to your reading list now...you won't regret it!

About the author: J.A. Lang is a British mystery writer, and author of the Chef Maurice Mysteries series.

She lives in Oxford, England, with her husband, an excessive number of cookbooks, and a sourdough starter named Bob.

Author Links:

Webpage: www.jalang.net

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/JALang

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JA-Lang-Author/1557634614471851

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TOO2QW8/

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00TOO2QW8/

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/ebook/chef-maurice-and-a-spot-of-truffle

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chef-maurice-and-a-spot-of-truffle-ja-lang/1121687602?ean=2940151553179


Giveaway: Win a signed copy of Chef Maurice and a Spot of Truffle, as well as an extremely cuddly Pillow Pet Pig (RRP $19.99)!

Open to US and UK residents.

16 comments:

Jeanetta said...

What could be better than a mystery with a touch of a pignapping? This book sounds like a humorous read.

Unknown said...

Aw, it looks like a fun read, thanks for the chance :)
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

skkorman said...

I would love to read this book—thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

katsrus said...

Sounds like a fun book. Cute book cover.
Sue B
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Okay, please count me in. I love pigs! Hug.

Anonymous said...

Okay, please count me in. I love pigs! Hug.

Anonymous said...

What a great giveaway! The book sounds like such fun and who wouldn't want a pink pig? I know my cats would love a pillow pet! patucker54 (at aol dot com)

pilch92 said...

That sounds like a great read. And I love the stuffed pig- my kitties have lots of pillow pets they sleep on. :)

Seville at Nerissa's Life said...

Gosh, that sounds like a really fun book! Have to check it out, for sure.

Purrs,
Nissy

PS. Please don't enter me in the draw 'cause, as you know, I'm a Canadian kitty. purrs

Lola The Rescued Cat said...

Mommy entered! She loves to read and she says this book ound great!
Love,
Lola and Lexy

Lola The Rescued Cat said...

Mommy entered! She loves to read and she says this book ound great!
Love,
Lola and Lexy

Mariodacat said...

Sounds like a cute and fun book. Says she won't enter this time tho. She's way behind in reading her books.

Anonymous said...

Gweat weview. Sounds liked a cool little book. Hope yous have a pawsum day.

Luv ya'

Dezi and Lexi

Katreader said...

I loved this book! And it's prequel. I especially love Hamilton!

Renee G said...

I adore pigs and cookbooks. This book sounds cute.

A Tonl said...

Truff, you sure do know how to pen a great Tortie Shortie!